Planetary
Op-ed | An argument for space fission reactors
America’s space program has long held a special place in the public’s imagination, but NASA missions are limited by budget constraints. NASA must use its funding wisely to implement balanced, cost-efficient programs to develop enabling technologies, such as technologies to power future NASA missions.
SSL Is Partner for Proposed NASA Mission to Metallic Asteroid
Should a proposed probe to a metallic asteroid win NASA funding next year, Space Systems/Loral will provide the spacecraft structure and propulsion system.
Europa Clipper Team Seeking Earlier Launch
The team working on the leading concept for a mission to Europa believes it can be ready for launch as soon as 2022, several years ahead of the schedule NASA officials recently stated.
Japanese Probe Getting Second Shot at Orbiting Venus
Exactly five years to the day after Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft sped past Venus without entering orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will try again Dec. 7 to put the probe into orbit around the second planet from the sun.
Op-ed | The Opportunity for Bipartisan Planetary Exploration
Buried within the landscape of U.S. partisan conflict lies a wellspring of bipartisan potential that could ignite a new bipartisan era of planetary exploration.
Culberson Pledges Planetary Science Support During Unscheduled Flyby
The incoming chairman of the House Appropriations commerce, justice, science subcommittee reiterated a promise to find more funding for NASA’s portfolio of robotic solar system missions.
NASA Planetary Science Review To Be Released Soon
The long-awaited senior review of NASA planetary science missions is effectively complete and will be publicly released in the next week or two, a NASA official said July 21
VIDEO | The Planetary Society’s LightSail-1 Cubesat
Following the launch, Orbcomm said all six satellites were healthy in orbit and sending signals.
Planet Labs Secures Funding To Launch Another 72 Satellites
Planet Labs on March 17 said it had secured funding to launch an additional 72 satellites into low Earth orbit in the next 12 months.
Planet Labs Cubesats Deployed from ISS with Many More To Follow
The four satellites launched Feb. 11 are destined for Planet Labs’ 28-spacecraft Flock-1 Earth observing constellation.
Planet-hunting Plato Wins Backing of European Scientists for $1B Medium-class Mission
European scientists have proposed that the Plato as ESA’s next Medium-class mission for launch between 2022 and 2024.
Profile | Chris Boshuizen, Chief Technology Officer, Planet Labs Inc.
Ames physicists Chris Boshuizen and Will Marshall realized smartphone technology could produce dramatically cheaper, more capable spacecraft.
Commercial Spaceflight | With 2 More Cubesats in Orbit, Earth-imaging Startup Planet Labs Ships Next Batch of 28 to Wallops
Planet Labs sent triple cubesats Dove 3 and Dove 4 into polar orbit on a Dnepr rocket from Russia’s Yasny launch site.
Mars 2020 Rover To Include Test Device To Tap Planet’s Atmosphere for Oxygen
Depending on what scientists propose for the Mars 2020 rover’s instrument package, the ISRU technology demonstration also could include actual oxygen production.
